Customs provisional bond: importer must produce valid licence, pay duty shortfall, or face governmental recovery measures. A customs provisional bond permits conditional clearance of imported goods pending production or validation of an import licence and payment of any duty shortfall; the importer furnishes cash and/or securities as security, must supply requested documents and a valid licence within the allowed period, pay the difference between provisional and final duties, and remit any penalty in lieu of confiscation, failing which the government may recover sums by adjusting the security or by other customs recovery measures.